Phil Lilley

JR- I have some Castaic baits you can borrow next time you go down there. You should have called!

They won't buy any land, especially up there. The buildings and houses didn't flood. The land at Alexander Park - the houses will probably be torn down and houses rebuilt on stilts. Houses across from Fall Creek- the same.

Moved your post. Should do better here. Where have you tried catching fish and how?

Thanks for jumping right in, Sam. Glad you did.

You need to come see me!

Are you asking for another forum named Boat Help?

Not sure what you're asking for...

If you're not staying there, stop and ask security at the gate and see if they'll let you in to fish. At times they will but their rules change,,, sometimes on a daily basis. It doesn't hurt to ask but don't be surprised if they say no. That's the only way to that area UNLESS you park at MDC ramp and walk all the way down. There used to be a path along the bluff to there but I don't know if it's still there.

<iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V6k3hTF9-qw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Only works for internet explorer, if it works at all.

Gives a new meaning to "red eye".

David guides both in Alaska and Michigan. Here's his website. www.peremarquetteoutfitters.com

I get emails from a friend of mine, Tom Silver, about his fishing adventures. I usually don't post them but thought I would seeing the forum is staved for reading and viewing material this time of summer. WEATHER COLD, DARK BROODING SKIES, NIGHT RAINS, RAZOR-TOOTHED LAKE TROUT SPILLING FROM NONVIANUK LAKE TO RAVAGE & SAVAGE THE RIVER FOR MILES DOWN STREAM, LEOPARD RAINBOW TROUT, MILLIONS OF SOCKEYE SALMON ( "RED SALMON" ) RUNNING UP THE RIVER IN A 24/7, THREE MONTH, MIGRATION FROM BRISTOL BAY TO SPAWN IN THEIR NATAL BEDS THEN DIE, GIANT GRIZZLY'S PLUNGING & CLAWING & FEASTING ON SOCKEYE FLESH, GRAYLING SMACKING & SIPPING SURFACE FLY HATCHES, BALD EAGLES STRAFING FOR LIVING OR DEAD CRITTERS, WOLVES & FOX ON RELENTLESS HUNTS, MASSIVE SPLAYED HOOFED MOOSE 6 FOOT AT THE SHOULDER WADE RUSHING WATERS WITH EASE AS IF ON STILTS, NEARLY 24 HOUR DAYLIGHT, SUMPTUOUS MEALS OF FRESHLY DRESSED & PAN FRIED LAKE TROUT & RUBY RED SOCKEYES, SLEEP BAG SLEEPING WHILE RAINS PEPPER & BATTER TENTS' RAIN FLY, AN AWESOME SCENERY OF ENDLESS TUNDRA AND BOREAL FOREST PRIMEVAL, A SERPENTINE RIVER BOUND FOR BRISTOL BAY, AND WE WERE THERE IN THE MIDST OF THE ALASKA'S RAPTURE! ON WEEK TWO WE WERE JOINED BY FORMER YAAK, MT., FORESTER ( RET. ), C.W. FUDGE ( 52 YEAR FRIEND ) AND A NON-FISHERMAN, CHRISTOPHER CALVERT. CHRIS HAS BEEN ON A 31 YEAR QUEST TO VISIT ALL 394 U.S. NATIONAL PARKS. AFTER US ( TWO NAT'L PARKS ), CHRIS HAS "JUST" 13 MORE PARKS TO GO, HAVING NOW VISITED 381 PARKS! HE IS DOING HIS 13th PARK NEXT WEEK ON A SIX DAY VOYAGE, ANIAKCHAK CRATER NATIONAL PARK, AK. A TREACHEROUS JOURNEY AS THEY LITE ON PONTOONS IN CRATER ( 1931 ) ON SURPRISE LAKE. HE & GUIDE SHOOT RIVER THAT TUMBLES FROM CRATER FOR MILES ON A MOONSCAPE TO FINAL ON PACIFIC OCEAN. I'M SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA FROM PAST YEARS. BROTHER DAVID SILVER FERRY CRUISED RIGHT BY ANIAKCHAK IN 2009 ON WAY TO DUTCH HARBOR. HORRIBLE WINDS & WEATHER WITH COAST GUARD CHOPPERS RESCUING AN ADVENTURE GROUP LAST YEAR AFTER 120 MPH WINDS SHREDDED THEIR ENTIRE CAMP & FOOD STUFFS. A SERIOUS SITUATION. I ALSO MET A HONEY MOON COUPLE COMMITTED TO HARD SHELL KAYAKING ANIAKCHAK. THEY DEPARTED NEXT DAY, HAVE OFTEN WONDERED ABOUT THEM. MOST OUTFITTERS & PILOTS DECLINE DOING ANIAKCHAK CRATER AS "TOO DICEY". CHRIS CALVERT IS DEVOTED TO DETAILING EACH PARK HAVING SHOT 2400 PICS ON OUR TRIP WITH HOURS OF VOICE RECORDING HIS OBSERVATIONS TO BE TRANSCRIBED AND CAREFULLY CATALOGED. HE IS A MAN ON A MISSION. HE'LL ACCOMPLISH ALL 394 PARKS IN TWO YEARS, ON HIS 50th BIRTHDAY! ENJOY ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS. WE WERE GUIDED BY DAVID ROLLER & SON, DAVEY, 24 YRS., PICTURED BELOW.

Checked- dam isn't in the filters. Still a dam here.

dam Filters must not work for admins. I'll check it. Man, you guys had a great trip! And very nice pictures. Those smallies look great- colors and patterns. Thanks for posting.

I have no idea why it works for some and not for others. Some people will get it fine and then won't. I actually hate the cam. It's frustrating not to have it working for people. I'm not skilled enough to know what to do.

Yea- but what about this morning???

Great pics. Kris got you on fish! I love his boat!

Now check it...

Yes- it's right next to Scotty's.

Well... The only real place you have to watch is the Narrows and with one unit running, you need to be in the channel on on plane. Otherwise, it's mid lake. You can even go over the bar at Fall Creek- I think it's deeper since the flood. Now once you're past the Narrows, and up to Lookout, you can run to Big Hole but I wouldn't go past there until they kick on another unit. You can get above there is you take it real easy and stay left till the root wad, then back to mid lake. It's tricky- even for those of us that's use to doing it cause it's changed that much. I may blow through there but I'm going to tell someone else to because if I do it, it's my boat I damage. I don't want someone to damage their boat on account of my advice. A good mark for the Narrows- go under the arched tree. Stay about the same distance from the bank like you're going under the tree. If it's foggy, stay out about 60-80 feet I think? That's pretty close. Vanven- I have some nice combos in the shop! They're what I use, spooled up with line and ready to go.

Headed up at 6 this morning to Lookout, Being the first boat out is pretty sweet. About the same generation every morning- one or may be a little more running. Good current to throw a 3/32nd oz jig. They were hungry this morning. Bite on almost every cast the first drift down. Nothing over 18 inches though but had 3-4 or them. One kentucky and one goggleye- both were fat as pigs. Probably eating sculpin. Second drift down wasn't as good. We worked the channel out away from the bank more than I have the last few days. Second drift- had this rainbow tap my jig in the fast water at the Narrows. Drifted almost all the to Short Creek and picked up several very nice rainbows along the bluff bank but not as much action as above Fall Creek.

<p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/6-25a-500.jpg" width="500" height="218"></p> <p>This is not your typical summer for us, here on Lake Taneycomo.&nbsp; Generation patterns have not been unusual, and weather has not been unusual, but other things make even the veteran Taney fisher scratch his head in wonder.</p> <p>First thing to notice is the flow versus the height of the lake.&nbsp; It looks fast when generation is even 75% or three units, but the water level isn’t much higher than normal, especially from Cooper Creek on down lake.&nbsp; That’s because the boards on top of Powersite Dam are still off, which makes the “normal” lake level about four feet low.&nbsp; They probably won’t be fixed until later this fall.</p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/6-28-brown-250.jpg" width="250" height="167" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right">The second thing to notice is the color and clarity of the water.&nbsp; There’s about 24 inches of visibility.&nbsp; Normally in the summer we see our clearest water of the year with visibility down to about eight feet.&nbsp; However, this spring’s flooding rains mixed Table Rock Lake so that even at 130 feet deep by the dam, the water is stained from the run off.&nbsp; And if you’re really paying attention, you’ll notice that our water temperature is much warmer than normal.&nbsp; It’s been running 53 degrees compared to the mid 40’s in past summers.&nbsp; Water quality is still high, but that will change in August when we’ll start to see the dissolved oxygen (D.O.) levels plummet.</p> <p>The third and last change our fishermen are witnessing is that our trout fishing is very, very good.&nbsp; That’s not necessarily unusual for July, since the Missouri Department of Conservation stocks about 90,000 rainbows for the month, but the size and number of big rainbows is astounding.</p> <p>Now the trophy area continues to be the best place to find larger trout, mainly because the slot-limit rules dictate the release of rainbows between 12 and 20 inches, allowing them to grow to larger sizes.&nbsp; But we’re seeing nice rainbows caught below this special area as well.</p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/6-28-rainbow-250.jpg" width="250" height="167" hspace="6" vspace="6" align="right">I talk about jigs a lot!&nbsp; And for good reason.&nbsp; They flat-out catch more trout and bigger trout even when they are so easy to use.&nbsp; I recently took two different people out fishing who had never cast or worked a jig.&nbsp; One was a good fisherman, about 12 years old, but he had only fished with bait when visiting Taneycomo with his grandfather in years past.&nbsp; He managed to hook and land several nice rainbows in a short period of time with little coaching from me.&nbsp; The other person was a young woman who rarely fishes but enjoys getting out occasionally.&nbsp; She landed three rainbows in about 45 minutes fishing the bluff bank across from the resort one evening.&nbsp; She wanted to catch, clean and eat what she caught, but all three rainbows were too big, and I wouldn’t let her kill them.&nbsp; It’s a personal thing for me… I don’t like to kill a rainbow longer than 15 inches since they are so fun for someone else to catch again.</p> <p>Early in the mornings lately,&nbsp; only one unit has been running, and the lake level is low and current pretty slow, at least down here.&nbsp; Upstream, above Fall Creek, it’s higher and a little faster but not too bad at all.&nbsp; The flow at one unit is very enjoyable.&nbsp; Throw 1/16th- to 3/32nd-ounce jigs against the bluff banks and really concentrate on the eddies and seams where the current picks up.&nbsp; Throw around the big rocks up there, too.&nbsp; When the water is running hard, which it has been from about noon until 7 p.m., use 1/8th-ounce jigs.&nbsp; </p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/6-28-vaughn-250.jpg" width="250" height="252" hspace="6" vspace="6" align="right">White jigs have been working okay below the dam. but darker jigs are doing better every place else.&nbsp; I cleaned two rainbows yesterday for dinner that I had caught on the bluff bank across the lake from the resort, plus a white bass I caught on the same drift. All three had sculpin in their stomachs that were 1.5 to 3 inches long, thus the reason the darker jigs were so appealing —brown, olive, sculpin, sculpin/olive, sculpin/ginger and black.</p> <p>Guide Bill Babler is still doing well drifting from the cable down to Trophy Run dragging either a white wooly bugger or a Rebel, F5001V floating black back.&nbsp; Also working well is dragging an egg fly, cream or pink, and/or a #16 brown or olive scud on a drift rig.&nbsp; I haven’t been up there all week, but I would still be working the banks with a jig, either the white or a darker jig.</p> <p>I’ve seen the guides now drifting from Andy William’s house down to the Narrows, staying the middle and drifting the same fly selection on a drift rig or using a float and fishing the flies six-to 10-feet deep depending on how much water is running.&nbsp; After the high water in May, we weren’t finding many fish in this area, but they have seemed to found their way back.</p> <p>Bill says the MDC has stocked a ton of rainbows in the downtown area of Branson, and I think they’ve made their way up here.&nbsp; I was out this evening throwing a jig on the bluff bank from Fall Creek to Short Creek and found those stockers pretty eager to eat my offering.&nbsp; They aren’t real small, I’d say averaging about 11 inches.</p> <p>Drifting PowerBait Gulp eggs in pink or yellow from Monkey Island to the bridges is very good, catching mainly those stocker rainbows.&nbsp; Bill has also tried using a 1/80th jig head and putting a Gulp egg on it and using a float, fishing it seven- to nine-feet deep. &nbsp;Now you need a pretty long rod to handle this kind of rig and casting it is also tricky.&nbsp; But if you don’t like bouncing the bottom, it’s a good way to catch trout.</p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/6-25b-250.jpg" width="250" height="168" hspace="6" vspace="6" align="right">Guide Steve Dicky says he’s been drifting night crawlers from Fall Creek to past Trout Hollow and catching a little larger rainbow than fishing further down lake.&nbsp; He does warn that there are a bunch of new trees and snags on the bottom to eat up your drift rigs!</p> <p>Most mornings and evenings it’s foggy on our lake.&nbsp; Our fog is deceptive, too.&nbsp; You can be running in light fog conditions and, all of a sudden, you’ll find yourself in very dense fog without warning.&nbsp; That’s when you’ll run up on someone dead in the water or, more dangerous yet, someone heading in the opposite direction.&nbsp; Here are a points to heed&nbsp; when fishing in these conditions:</p> <ol> <li>Until the fog clears, don’t fish in the middle of the lake.&nbsp; Sit close to the bank and throw out to the middle.&nbsp; Stay out of the traffic lanes.</li> <li>When running, go slower than you think is safe.&nbsp; Stay to the right of the lake, just as you would on a road.&nbsp; If you know anything about “rules of the road.” you know that this is a major rule on the water. (Passing boats are to slip by port-to-port or meeting with the left sides closest.)</li> <li>If you’re vision is impeded at all by foggy glasses or objects in front of the driver like seats or tackle boxes or riders in the boat, remove them before continuing.</li> <li>If you meet someone or run upon someone, let off the throttle immediately and put it in neutral, remembering that boats don’t have brakes. Don’t just try to slow down and swerve to avoid collision.</li> </ol>

If you see midging trout early or late, zebra midge or micro jig under an indicator. Not sure what other fly would work.

Bill is right. Current wouldn't be that strong down there even with 4 units, which they're only running 3 lately. Launching at Cooper would be ok in the morning till about noon but like Bill said, go upstream and float down. Later in the pm, the current will pick up.